The Legend of the Condor Heroes

Huazheng shook her head, "My guess is not the first brother, most likely the third brother, or even the fourth brother."

Guo Jing knew Genghis Khan's eldest son Jochi was smart and very competent; the second son, Chagatai was brave and a good strategist. These two men did not bow to each other, their competition was most ardent. The third son Ogedei loved to drink and to hunt; generosity was one of his traits. He realized that after his father passed away, the successor would be either his first or second brother. But among the four princes of the Khan, actually Tuolei was his father's favorite. He realized he had no chance to become the next Khan; therefore, he had never fought over the position of the crown prince. He was in good terms with all of his three brothers.

Guo Jing was not convinced by Huazheng's explanation, "Would the Great Khan appoint the Khan's Crown Prince based on what you said?" he asked.

"I am not sure about that either," Huazheng said, "That was my blind guess. But even if the first brother or the second brother becomes the next Khan, you don't have to worry either. If they make things difficult for you, I will fight them to the death." Huazheng was Genghis Khan's beloved daughter; 30% of the time her four elder brothers yielded to her.

Guo Jing knew she would do what she said; he slightly smile and said, "You don't have to do that."

"Why not?" Huazheng said, "If my brothers don't treat us nicely, we can go together to the south."

"That's what I was going to say," Guo Jing blurted, "I must go back to the south."

Huazheng was silent for a moment, "I am afraid mother and father won't let me go," she said.

"It's only me …" Guo Jing started to say, but Huazheng cut him off, "Hmm, I will always listen to you. If you say we are going south, I am coming with you. If mother and father won't give their permission, we'll elope."

Guo Jing could not hold himself much longer, he jumped and stood up, "It's only two people, me and my mother who are going back south," he said. Having said this, one was standing up, the other was sitting down, four eyes looked at each other, both stayed still like a pair or statues.

Huazheng's face showed confusion and despair, she did not understand what he was saying. "Meizi," Guo Jing broke the silence, "Please forgive me! I can't marry you."

"Why? What did I do wrong? You are blaming me for not killing myself, are you not?" Huazheng was confused.

Guo Jing almost shouted, "NO! No! It's not your fault. I don't know whose fault it is; I have thought back and forth, and if I should blame anybody, it should be me."

Henceforth he started telling Huazheng everything about Huang Rong. When he got to the part on how Huang Rong was currently held captive by Ouyang Feng, and that he had searched high and low for half a year without finding any trace of her; Huazheng could feel the excitement in his voice, she was unable to hold her tears from falling down.

Finally Guo Jing said, "Meizi, please just forget me, I must go and look for her."

"After you found her, would you come back here looking for me?" Huazheng asked.

"If she is safe and well, I will certainly go back north," Guo Jing promised, "At that time, if you did not shut me off and still want me, I will marry you. I definitely won't regret it."

Huazheng slowly said, "You don't have to say that. You know I will always want you to marry me. Go and find her, whether it will be ten years, twenty years, as long as I am still alive, I am going to wait for you in this grassland."

Guo Jing was excited, "Yes," he exclaimed, "Ten years, twenty years, I am going to look for her. Ten years, twenty years, I will also remember that you are waiting for me in this grassland."

Huazheng sprang up and threw herself into his bosom, weeping uncontrollably. Guo Jing embraced her gently, his eyes were turning red. Two people hugged each other without saying anything. Things had come this far, they knew if they say another word they would only grieve the other.

After a long time, they saw four riders from the west came rushing by; they swept pass by Guo Jing and Huazheng's side, went directly to the Golden Tent. They were still about dozens of 'zhang's away from the Golden Tent when suddenly one of the horses fell down and was unable to stand again; it was obvious that this horse was very tired, it dropped dead right then and there. The rider stood up and without casting a single glance toward his dead horse he dashed wildly into the Golden Tent.

A short moment later ten men with horns in their hand rushed out of the Golden Tent; they faced four directions and blow their horns, "Whooo! Whooo! Whooo!"

Guo Jing knew it was Genghis Khan's most urgent call, whether it was his own son or his beloved general, if anybody did not show up by the time the Great Khan had bent all his ten fingers, he would be beheaded immediately, no question asked.

"The Great Khan summons us!" Guo Jing shouted. Without saying anything to Huazheng he used his lightness kungfu and flew toward the Golden Tent. He heard hoof beats coming urgently from all directions.

When Guo Jing arrived at the tent, Genghis Khan had only bent three fingers; and when he had bent eight fingers all the princes and senior generals were fully assembled. Genghis Khan loudly roared, "Does that dog king Muhammad have quicker princes? Does he have such gallant generals?"

"NO!" the assembly answered in unison.

Genghis Khan beat his chest and shouted, "Look! These are my special envoys to Khoresm; see how did that dog king Muhammad treat my loyal servants?" Every eye followed the Great Khan's finger. They saw several Mongolians with their faces swollen black and blue; their beards completely burnt. Beards were the Mongolian warriors' sign of dignity; it was considered a great insult just to bump into it, how much more insulting was it to burn it completely? As soon as the assembly saw this, everyone exploded in angry roars.

Genghis Khan said, "Khoresm is a big country with a strong army, but are we afraid of them? Because we have been concentrating our effort to battle the Jins, we were very lenient to them. Jochi my son, tell everybody how we should deal with that dog king Muhammad."

Jochi stepped forward and said with a loud voice, "That year Father King sent your son to attack the deserved-to-die Mergid people. Your son returned triumphantly. That dog king Muhammad also sent a big army to attack the Mergids. Two armies met. Your son sent a good-will envoy, saying that Father King sincerely wished to be friend with the Khoresm. That red-bearded dog king actually said, 'Genghis Khan did not order you to attack me, but Allah had sent me to attack you.' As a result we were engaged in a fierce battle. We had gained the upper hand, but because the enemy was ten-times our number, we quietly withdrew the troops at midnight."

Boroul suddenly said, "For all that the Great Khan still showed respect towards this dog king. We sent a trade caravan, but the cargo was robbed by that dog king, while our merchants were killed. This time we sent ambassadors of goodwill, that dog king has listened to that Jin dog prince Wanyan Honglie's instigation; he killed half of the Great Khan's messengers, while burning the other half's beards and sent them back home."